Pressure builds for Chair Vega Pederson to create sobering center, reconsider deflection

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – In a public appeal on Monday, the Portland police chief urged Multnomah County to prioritize a sobering center as the county chair continues to champion a deflection program that would not fulfill his request until mid-2025.

Chief Bob Day sent his letter to Chair Jessica Vega Pederson as a plea to end the city’s public safety crisis. He said the county needs to begin picking up the pace to set up a 24/7 drop-off sobering center where drug users can seek treatment.